Casting-box



E. E. NOVOTNY.

CASTING BOX.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 29. 191% 1,357,342, I Patented Nov. 2, 1920.

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E. E. NOVOTNY.

cmme ox. APPLICATION HLED MAY 29, 1917- 1,357,342. Patented Nov. 2,1920.

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CASTING BOX.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 29, 1917.

Patented Nov. 2, 1920.

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CASTING ox.

I APPucAnoN FI-LED MAY 29,4911. I 1 ,357 ,34 Patented Nov, 2, 1920.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EMIL E. NOVOTNY, OF RIVERSIDE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO J. STOGDELL STOKES,OF MOORESTOWN, NEW JERSEY.

CASTING-BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 2, 1920.

Application filed May 29, 1517. Serial No. 171,667.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EMIL E. Novo'rNY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Riverside, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Casting-Boxes, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to casting boxes adapted particularly for use inthe manufacture of cast or molded printing plates.

In the casting or molding of printing plates from plastic material, itis of course desirable to employ pressure in order to insure that theimpression face of the resulting plate will present printing andnonprinting portions of a requisite depth, sharpness and detail, andthis necessitates the confinement of the plastic material during themolding or pressing operation, as it is essential that the spread orlateral flow of the plastic composition be reduced to a minimum toobtain an accurate replica of the matrix. Furthermore it is desirable inthe manufacture of plastic plates that the latter, at the completion ofthe molding operation in the casting box, shouid embody finished detailsof structure, such as trimmed edges, plain or undercutbevels and thelike. In some instances it may also be found ad vantageous to mold theplate with the back face, or other non-printing portion there- 'of,equipped with projections, bosses, or

other designations or indications for obtaining the proper registrationor location of the printing plate in a predetermined position on theprinting press.

In carrying out my invention it is my purpose to provide a casting boxwherein a matrix may be securely held or clamped in a predeterminedposition during the molding operation for the purpose of makmg a platewhich maybe accurately and instantly spotted or located in apredetermined positi'on of registration on the plate support of thepress. 7

Furthermore I propose to provide a casting box wherein the plasticmaterial from which the plate is made will be confined against undue orexcessive side flow during the molding operation, so that the pressureexerted upon such material will cause the latter to flow in linesparallel with the direction of pressure, thus forcing the material intothe minutest depression of the matrix and thereby insuring thereproduction of the details of the matrix face.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a casting box whichwill possess a relatively great capacity in that a number of printingplates of various sizes may be simultaneously molded therein, with eachprinting plate structurally formed for a particular press and for thepredetermined position or location it is to occupy on such press.

I also aim to provide a casting box which is capable of considerableflexibility of operation, in the sense that it may be adjusted or builtup'to accommodate matrices and plates of different sizes or a number ofmatrices and plates, the casting box being so constructed that thepossibility of any matrix being embedded in or embraced at its marginaledge by the plastic material from which the plate is made is avoided.

With the above recited objects and others of a similar nature in View,my invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangementof parts set forth in and falling within the scope of the appendedclaims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is a top plan view of the bottom section of one form of castingbox embodying my invention and showing four matrices set up therein.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 22 of Big. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the builtup bed section of the castingbox shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a portion of the clamping means beingomitted to show the manner of fastening the matrix on the bed.

Fig. 4; is a detailed perspective view of one of the sections of the bedshown in Fig. 3, and also illustrating the positioning of one of theclamp sections thereto, the clamp in this instance having an external oroutside backing strip placed thereagainst.

Fig. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 1but also showing a portion of a core plate, partly in section and partlyin elevation, positioned above the matrix clamp.

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 66 of Fig. 1 andalso illustrating a portion of the core plate located in adjustedposition thereto.

Fig. 7 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation showing theoperation of molding plates in a casting box in a press.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a modified form of built-up casting-boxbed, and illustrating a clamping member as equipped with means forinsuring proper positioning of the matrix on the bed.

Fig. 9 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation of a castinglOOX in a press and illustrating the manner of casting the plate with abacking of wood or the like applied to the plastic plate material.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a modified form of casting box bed.

Fig. 11 is a cross sectii nal view taken on the line 11-11 of Fi 10.

Fig. 12 is a plan view of another modified form of casting box forcasting a flat plate and showing an adjustable core plate.

Fig. 13 is an end view of the casting box shown in Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of a casting box for molding curved plate,a corner of the box being cut away to show the interior arrangei'nent ofthe parts.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1 of the drawings, the numeral 1indicates a frame, which in the present instance is shown in rectangularform and is preferably composed of any suit-able metal, this frameforming a part of the bottom section of the casting boX, such bottomsection also including the bed B upon which the matrix is intended torest. The bed B is preferably made up of a series of assembled clocks 2,these blocks being of various sizes and shapes, preferably multiples ofpoints and picas according to ordinary printers measurement. From thisit is to be understood that by means of these blocks a. bed of anysuitable size or area may be built up to accommodate matrices of anypreferred form or size, four of such matrices being indicated by theletter M in F 1. These blocks are preferably made of metal with thesides thereof accurately mzichined and ground so as to form a close, tiht fit at all contacting faces. For the purpose of holding the matricesrigid and stmaionar v on the bed 13 of the box I employ a suitable nuniber of side clamping members and corner clamping members D, best shownin Fig. Each of the side clamping members 0 C011]- prises a verticalwall 5 having a down wardlv and inwardly projecting beveled or hook-likeflange 6 at the upper end thereo Likewise each of the corner clampingmembers D comprises an angular vertical wall. 7 with an angularhook-like flange 8 pro jecting downward and inward from the top edgethereof. The under or bottom face of each of these flanges 6 and 8 issubstantially" horizontal as shown at 9 so as to extend ap proximatelyparallel with the top face of the bed B when clamping a matrix againstthe bed as clearly shown in Fig. 3. Certain of the clamping members,preferably those near one corner of the bed, are formed along theirupper edges with small, spaced, preferably semi-circular lugs 10 whichare adapted to seat in similarly spaced sockets 11. formed in the underfaces of a core plate E of the casting box as shown in Fig. 7. I mightstate here that, as shown in Figs. 5 and 7, this core plate which ispositioned above the matrix, is provided on its under face with a fieldof these sockets, indicated by the numeral 11, arranged in rows spacedequi-distance apart.

The purpose of these sockets 11 on the core plate as shown in Fig. 7, isto produce on the back of the printing plate P, corresponding orcomplementary bosses or projections 15 so that when the printing plateis applied to the bed or plate support on the printing press, for thepurpose of printing, these bosses or projections will fit intocomplementary sockets on such press support. Consequently the printingplate may be readily and instantly spotted or positioned on the pressWithout the necessity of the tedious measurements commonly required inthe operation of what is usually known as registration. in other words,ha ving determined where the hinting plate is to be positioned on thepress, the core plate F is properly adjusted in the casting operation,as hereinafter described, to form bosses on the back of such printingplate in such position that the plate will fit on. a prcdetermined fieldor portion of the plate support of the press. This general scheme ofregistration is described in my copendinn' application Serial No.98.917. filed May 20th, 1916 By causing the lugs 10 on the clamping:members to seat in certain of these sockets 11 of core plate, and whichlug-receiving sockets will, of course, lie nearer the edges of the coreplate than those sockets of the latter which are to produce the bosses15 on the printing plate, I insure that when the core plate is closedagainst the plastic material. which forms the printing plate P, thematrix will not shift or move, and consequently an accurate melding ofthe plate and the bosses thereof may be had. Where a plurality of platesare to be made from a plurality of matrices held in the casting box, asshown in Figs. 1, 2 and 7 the adjacent or confronting edges of thematrices are separated by walls or partitions W made up of clampingmembers similar to those shown at G and D, these being placed back toback, or with their straight side walls in contacting relation as willbe understood by reference to Fig. 7. lhns it will be noted thatalthough a plurality of matrices are placed upon the built-up bed ofthecastingbox these matrices will be surrounded and clamped at all theiredges by a suitable number. of the clamping members. Furthermore toinsure the holding of the sectional casting box bed, the matrices, andthe clamp ing members all in stationary and rigid position I may providesuitable outlying bearing and reinforcing bars 12 which are assembled toform a frame bearing against and embracing the rows of clamping membersas will be understood by reference to Fig. 1. After these bars orbearers 12 have been so positioned, suitable furniture 13 and quoins 14are employed for securely locking all such assembled elements in theture suitable for the purpose, such for in-- stance as phenolic resin orphenolic condensation product, is placed upon the matrix or matrices Min a suflicient quantity to substantially come to the level of the topedges of the clamping members. The casting box bottom or bed is thenplaced upon the bottom platen F of a suitable press, as shown in Fig. 7.In said figure this press is simply conventionally illustrated, and alsoincludes the top platen G which carries on its underface the core plateE hereinbefore mentioned. This core plate E as stated is provided withsockets 11 which are intended to form the bosses 15 on the back of theplate P and in order to insure the proper location of the bosses on theplate so that the latter will register on the printing press support ashereinbefore mentioned, care should be taken to see; that the lugs 10 ofthe clamping members of the casting box bed will seat in the proper orselected sockets of the core plate when the latter is lowered intoplatemolding or pressing position. In order to limit the closing of thepress I provide suitable bearers 16 which rest upon the top face of theframe 1 of the casting box, and of course determines the degree ofclosing of the press and consequently the pressure to which the plasticmass is subjected in making the plate P.

In molding the plate from a phenolic condensation product or a phenolicresin, which hardens and sets to an infusible form under heat andpressure, it is required of course, that the plastic mass be subjectedto heating action and under such circumstances the press; may be heatedin any well known way. After the plastic material has been subjected toa suflicient degree of heat for the proper length of time to cause thehardening and setting of the plastic material, it may be cooled, eitherin the same press or through any convenient agency. However, I wish itto be understood that my invention is not limited in its usefulapplimiti'e'n to the casting of plates of phenolic material, as I havereferred to the use of this substance simply by way of illustration.

After the plate P has been molded or' cast as shown in Fig. 7 theplatens of the press may be opened and the core plate E which ispreferably carried by the upper press platen Gr is thus withdrawn. Theframe 1 with the bed B carrying the matrix and the plate may now beremoved from the press and the plate and matrix separated by simplylifting the former from off the face of the latter. Other casts orplates may then be made with the same matrix or series of matrices. Inthis connection it will be seen by reference to Fig. 7 that the beveledfaces of the clamping blocks or members will form correspondinglyinwardly and downwardly or under-edge bevels p on the printing plates,so that when the plate is reversed and positioned on the press thesebevels will be inclined downwardly and outwardly and will constitutesurfaces or sides which may be gripped and held by the well known plateclamps on the press.

In Fig. 8 I have shown one of the clamping members G as provided with aspur or tongue 17 which forms an indication member adapted to seat in aregistration groove 18 formed on a non-type forming portion of thematrix, in the present instance one marginal edge of the latter. Thistongue 17 when seated or centered in the indicating groove 18 will.insure or indicate that the matrix is properly positioned beneath acertain field or section of the core plate Fl so that the resultingplate molded from the matrix so positioned, will have its bosses formedon theback at predetermined points or centers, as is necessary for the.proper registration of the plate on the press, as hereinbeforedescribed. If desired a sew 0nd indicating groove 18 may be formed on anadjacent side of the matrix to receive a tongue similar to the tongue 17but formed, of course, on the clamping member which will lie against thebed in position to fit into such groove 18.

In Fig. 9 I have shown a slightly modified form of clamping device, inthis case the clamping incml ers (3 instead of having downwardly andinwardly beveled faces, are formed with vertical or straight faces 19 ofrelatively great depth, and in this case a backing block 20 ofwood-fiber or other suitable material, is molded or united with the backof the body of plastic plate material P at the time of the making of theplate. Of course the plastic material will readily adhere to this block20. under the action of heat and pressure, and when cooled will be foundunited therewith so that a plate completely backed up or mounted uponthe block will result. Otherwise. the structure and operation of thearrangement lied form of bed for the casting box.

shown in Fig. 9 is the same as previously described tor thissectional-bed casting box.

In 10 and 11. l have shown a modiin this instance instead of making thebed of a series of assen'ibled sections or blocks, and surroiuidingthese blocks with clamping members, I provide a bed 21 which ispreferably in the nature of a flat plate of steel or other suitablemater al. with the top and bottom faces thereof machined and ground toinsure accurate flat, pa"allel surfaces. This bed plate 21 is bored toprovide aper tures or perforations 22 which are preferably arranged inrows. the apertures being spaced suitable distances apart. The purposeof these apertures is in provide sockets for the reception of pins :6,depending from the clamping bars 24!; and which bars may be arranged toprovide a clamping frame for the matrix which is shown at M. .lt will benoted that the longitudinal edges of the bars are oppositely beveled asshown at 25 so that these beveled edges may overlap the underlyingmarginal edges of the matrix and clamp the same in position whilepreventing the flow of any plastic plate material beneath the bars andconsequently over the edges of the matrix. Ths confinement of the flowof the plastic material will. obviate the possibility of the matrixsticking in the same as would be liable to occur were not this overlapof the clamp provided for as shown in Fig. 10. This same purpose .isaccomplished in the structure illustrated in Figs. 1 to 9 previouslydescribed. ()f course as will be understood by reference to Fig. 10, theclamping bars. being oppositely bev eled at their longitudinal edges,may be re versed so that the matrix may be clamped by eitherlongitudinal edge 01'. the bar and fin'thermore the bars may beinterchangeably placed on the field of the bed plate 21 or the positionsof the bars may be changed to suit the size and character of theparticular plate being clamped.

Furthermore this bed plate 21 may be provided with suitable bearers 26having pins 27 for seating in selected apertures 22 of the plate 21. thepurpose of these bars of course being to limit the closure of the pressand consequently the pressure to which the plastic material of the plateis to be subjected. 4

This form of casting box bed shown in Figs. 10 and 11 is exceedinglysimple in its construction and possesses manifest advantages from thestandpoint of convenience in operation and rigidity, being particularlywell adapted for the molding of single plates. In positioning the matrixMl on this bed plate 21, a thin sheet of steel or other suitablematerial 28 of approximately the area. of the matrix is placed on thebed and the matrix then imposed thereon and subsequently clamped inposition by the clamping bars 2%. The purpose of this thin sheet 28 ofcourse is to prevent the material of the matrix from being forced underheatand pressure through such of the apertures 22 as may 1i directlyheneath the same.

In Figs. 12 and 18 l. have shown a still further modified form ofcasting box, in this instance the bed 29 of the box is provided with aclamp i) for clamping the matrix M and the core plate E is mounted uponthe top 250 of the casting box in such a manner as to be movable in twodirections rela tive to the matrix, and consequently to the plate Pbeing made from the matrix. These movements of the core plate E relaveto the top 36 may be attained in any .itable manner. in the presentinstance the top plate 30 carries a sliding bed plate 32 having adovetailed tongue working in a corresponding dovetailed groove 3 1 sothat this plate 32 may be shifted or slid back and forth in a singlepath relative to the top 30. For so shifting the plate 32 any suitablemechanism may be employed such for instance as screw shaft 35, which isrotatable relative to the top but incapable of lengthwise movement ofthe same by reason of the key member 36 formed on the bottom face of thetop and which seats in the groove 37 formed near the end of the screwshanlr. The threaded section of the screw shah}; works in the bore 38,one-half seriiiou of which is unthreaded and is formed in the top 30,and the other half section of 'hLeh, is threaded and is formed in thesliding plate 32. lhe result is that the plate 32 may be shifted backand forth relative to the top depending on the direction in which thescrew is turned. The core plate E itself is adapted to slide or l eshifted relative to this plate 32 or in a path transverse to the path inwhich plate 82 slides with the result that the core plate may be bodilyshifted longitudinally and transversely. To shift the core plate Erelat've to the plate 32 I provide the top of such core plate with adovetailed groove 4.0, which receives the dovetailed tongue s1 formed onthe bottom face of he plate while the screw 42., similar to screw 35 isemployed for shifting the core plate, the threaded section of the shankof the screw woii'lzing the bore 13, the upper unthreaded part of whichis formed in the face of the plate 32 and the lower t'h eaded part ofwhich is formed in the top face of the core plate. 21 small key member ll extending from the bottom face of the plate 32 and projecting into thegroove e5 formed near the end of the screw tongue prevents a bodilylongitudinal movement of the screw while permitting the latter torotate. Thus by means of the two screws 35 and 42, the core plate may beshifted both longitudinally and laterally,

moving in one direction with the plate 32 and in another directionrelative to the plate 32. Consequently the core plate may be moved upinto one corner of the casting box, or into abutting relation with theside walls 16 and 47 which are on the top 80 and form depending flangestherefor. The lower portions of these walls 46 and 1? are provided withopen slots 48, and bolts 49 car ried by the bottom. or bed 29, projectthrough these slots and are locked by means of the thumb nuts 50, aswill be readily understood. Thus this form of casting box includes a bedand a flanged cover or top carryinga core plate which may be adjusted,as is desired, to form bosses or indications in predetermined positionson the back of the plastic plate P for the purpose of pressregistration, as hereinbefore described.

In Fig. 14 I have illustrated a form of casting box which may beemployed for the molding of curved plates. In SillCl figure the numeral51 indicates the base of the box and this may be cored out in anysuitable manner as shown at 52 to permit of the admission of either aheating agent or a cooling agent as may be deemed advisable. and as maybe readily understood. For this purpose steam or gas may be admitted tothe base for heating purposes, or if desired, water may be fed theretoto act as a cooling agent. Upon this base I mount a semicylindrical orcurved bed plate 53, the longitudinal flanges 5d of which rest upon thelongitudinal side edges of the base 51'. On this bed plate 53 I imposeor position the matrix shown at M the matrix or plate, possessing adegree of flexibility, may be curved or bent to conform to thesemicylindrical shape of the bed plate, much in the manner that theordinary stereotype matrix is bowed in making curved stereotype plates.The longitudinal side edges of the matrix are confined or clamped inposition by longitudinal clamping bars 55 fastened by screws orotherwise to strips or bars 56 imposed on top of the bed plate 54. Theseclamping bars 55 are shouldered as shown at 57 so as to overlie and gripthe ad jacent edges of the matrix, the clamping bars being capable ofbeing tightened against'the edge of the matrix by screws which fastensuch bar to the strip 56 as shown at 57. The matrix is confined at bothends by suitable transverse curved strips such as are shown at 58, thesestrips being fastened by pins or the like shown at 59 to the bed plate53. The matrix simply abuts at its ends against these end strips 58,thelatter being of sufficient depth to extend above the matrix thedesired distance to accommodate the thickness of the plate to be cast.The plastic plate molding material is shown at P and in the operation ofthe casting box is placed against the molding face of the matrix as isdescribed for the making of flat plates. The core plate which is also ofcourse semi-cylindrical in form is shown at 60 and is provided with therecesses (51 for forming the bosses 62 on the back of the plastic plate,the screws (53 being also provided for farming threaded bores in theback of the bosses to constitute means for enabling the bosses to bebolted to the plate support on the printing press when the plate is inuse. This core plate (50 is provided with flanges 6% which set on top ofthe bars 56 and hang or support the core plate in proper position. Thecore plate may be heated or cooled in any suitable manner, and in thepresent instance the top platen or section of the casting box isintended to be screwed or otherwise rigidly fastened to the top platenof the press (not shown) a screw socket 66 being provided at each end ofthe platen for receiving the screw or fastening device by means of whichthe platen is so secured. The heating or cooling agent may be admittedin any suitable manner such for instance as through pipes or ductsconventionally indicated at 68. In other words this top plate 65 of thecasting box being rigid with the top platen of press may be raised andlowered with the latter, and will always be properly alined with thebase 51 of the box, and the latter. which rests upon the bottom platenof the press, may be rigidly secured to such platen in any desiredmanner, as by a bolt 69. In Fig. 1% I have merely shown a portion of theframe or body of the upper platen of the press, the latter beingindicated at 70 and is provided with suitable bolts and nuts, such forinstance as indicated at T1, for the purpose of properly securing andalining the casting box platen 65 relative to this frame 70 of the pressplaten. Such a structure as is shown in Fig. 1a is of course intended tobe used in the casting of partially cylindrical or curved plates, and,outside of the necessary structural changes for making this particularshape of plate, operates on substantially the same principle asdescribed for the flat plate casting box.

From the above description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, it will be noted that I have provided certain forms of castingboxes wherein an article such as a printing plate, may be molded from amatrix in such manner as to not only accurately reproduce to theminutest detail the molding face or field of such matrix, but this maybe accomplished without the liability of the plastic plate materialsticking to or embracing the edges of the matrix which would result inthe inability to separate the plate and its matrix without damagingeither or both. Furthermore, when used for the making of printingplates, either curved or fiat, it will be noted that through the agencyof a core plate provided with indicating means corresponding to a fieldof similar indicating means on the plate support of the printing press,that the plate may be molded or cast with certain designations, in thenature of bosses or other indications or marks which will enable theplate to be instantly spotted or placed in a desired position ofregistration on the held of its support on the press.

lVhile I have herein shown and described certain preferred embodimentsof my invention, I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myselfto all the precise details of construction set forth by way ofillustration, as modification and variation may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention or exceeding the scope of theappended claims;

What I claim is:

1. In a casting box, a base member, a series of clamping membersarranged end to end and surrounding the base members, each of saidclamping members having an inwardly projecting portion adapted tooverlie and clamp a matrix on the base, and a core plate adapted toexert pressure against material positioned on the matrix and to formindicating means on the material.

2. In a casting box, the combination with a base, and means for clampingthe matrix thereon, a core plate associated with the base and clampingmeans and adapted to form predetermined indications upon a body ofmaterial being molded upon the matrix, and means for adjusting the coreplate to form such indications at predeter mined points upon thematerial being molded.

In a casting box, a base frame, a base vcomprising a series of assembledblocks,

clamping bars located at the sides of the base, each of said clampingbars having an inwardly extending clamping flange adapted to overlie andclamp the edges of the matrix positioned on the base, retaining barslocated in abutting relation to the outer faces of the clamping bars,and means for locking the assembled base with the clamping bars andretaining the bars in the base frame.

l. In a casting box, a base frame, a base comprising a series ofassembled blocks, clamping bars adjustable on the base to vary the sizeof the casting box and each having an inwardly extending clamping flangeadapted to overlie and clamp the edge of a matrix positioned on thebase, retaming bars located in abutting relation to the outer faces ofthe clamping bars, and means for locking the assembled base, clampingbars and retaining bars in the base frame.

5. In a casting box, a base frame, a base within the frame, clampingbars each ha* ing an inwardly extending clamping flange adapted tooverlie and clamp the edge of a matrix positioned on the base and asection projecting above the matrix to restrict the flow of materialmolded against the matrix, said bars being individually adjustable onthe base to vary the size of the casting box, retaining bars located inabutting relation to the outer faces of the clamping bars, and means forlocking the assembled base, clamping bars and retaining bars in the baseframe.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

EMIL E. NOVOTNY.

